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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Thai voters 'approve new charter' | Thai voters 'approve new charter' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Thailand's military coup leaders have won a referendum on a new constitution by a large margin, taking around 70% of Sunday's vote, exit polls suggest. | Thailand's military coup leaders have won a referendum on a new constitution by a large margin, taking around 70% of Sunday's vote, exit polls suggest. |
| It was the first vote to be held since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the army last year and replaced with Gen Surayud Chulanont. | It was the first vote to be held since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the army last year and replaced with Gen Surayud Chulanont. |
| About 60% of voters turned out, according to the election commission. | About 60% of voters turned out, according to the election commission. |
| Thaksin supporters had urged a No vote, saying the new constitution had been drafted by an illegitimate government. | Thaksin supporters had urged a No vote, saying the new constitution had been drafted by an illegitimate government. |
| But Prime Minister Surayud said the result marked a victory. | But Prime Minister Surayud said the result marked a victory. |
| "We consider that this constitution has been approved by the people, and by the end of August the constitution will be submitted to the king for endorsement," he told national television. | "We consider that this constitution has been approved by the people, and by the end of August the constitution will be submitted to the king for endorsement," he told national television. |
| He said that the vote meant elections to restore democracy would be held by the end of the year. | He said that the vote meant elections to restore democracy would be held by the end of the year. |
| This referendum was about a lot more than the 194-page constitution which few Thais are likely to have read, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok - it was also a vote on the coup itself. | This referendum was about a lot more than the 194-page constitution which few Thais are likely to have read, the BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok - it was also a vote on the coup itself. |
| 'Loopholes' | 'Loopholes' |
| The charter is meant to replace the popular 1997 constitution, which the generals tore up after seizing power. | The charter is meant to replace the popular 1997 constitution, which the generals tore up after seizing power. |
| Mr Thaksin, owner of Manchester City FC, was at a game on Sunday | |
| Critics say the new constitution is less democratic, as it proposes that the Senate should be only partly elected. | Critics say the new constitution is less democratic, as it proposes that the Senate should be only partly elected. |
| But the government says there were too many loopholes in the old charter that allowed Mr Thaksin to abuse power. | But the government says there were too many loopholes in the old charter that allowed Mr Thaksin to abuse power. |
| Its also says the new charter has many other clauses, like those recognising minority rights, which are more liberal than before. | Its also says the new charter has many other clauses, like those recognising minority rights, which are more liberal than before. |
| The draft document limits future prime ministers to two terms in office and makes it easier to impeach them. | The draft document limits future prime ministers to two terms in office and makes it easier to impeach them. |
| The military has promised elections to restore democratic government by the end of the year, on the basis of the new constitution. | The military has promised elections to restore democratic government by the end of the year, on the basis of the new constitution. |
| Considerable opposition to the new rulers remains in the countryside of the north and north-east, where poor farmers stay loyal to Mr Thaksin. | Considerable opposition to the new rulers remains in the countryside of the north and north-east, where poor farmers stay loyal to Mr Thaksin. |